Ethical language is meaningless’ Discuss (35 marks)

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Ethical language is meaningless’ Discuss (35 marks)
- P3 - intuitionism G E Moore
  - good is simple which cannot be analysed (yellow)
    - still cognitive - different means of verifying = intuition
      - we know what good is when we see it but cannot explain it eg murder
        not proved conclusively/how can we be sure intuitions are correct/contradictng?
- P4 - intuitionism W D Ross
  - same root as Moore but was deontologist
    - devised prima facie duties (first sight) which were always right
      - if they conflict use intuition
  - problem with intuitionism as a whole - due to social conditioning
- P5 - emotivism A J Ayer
  - non-cognitive = meaningful
    - ethical statements cannot be true/false
  - ethical statements served to explain dis/approval any other interpretation = meaningless
  - also boo-hurrah
  - 'steal' is interpretation
    - reduces to 'simple subjectivism' - meaningless?
LINK TO QUESTION
P6 - emotivism C L Stevenson
- more detailed "ethics and language" 1944
  - statements are expressive and descriptive - influence others
    - give validity to everyone's opinions (Hitler?)
P7 - prescriptivism R M Hare
- ethical language = to say what ought to be done
- we must do what we prescribe
- prescriptivism gives more purpose
- no valid reason for one prescription over another
- one should go in other's shoes - terrorism against this
we use good in relation to context
- when we prescribe it is meaningful
- ethical language = to say what ought to be done

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